SBIR-STTR Award

New technologies are needed to help buildings become more flexible resources for utilities to efficiently manage the increasing introduction of variable output energy sources (such as photovoltaics and wind) to the electric grid while maintaining or improving occupant satisfaction and comfort. This SBIR Phase I project proposes to validate the technical feasibility of a new residential heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) zoning system—an automatic modulating air distribution manifold—that will deliver greater occupant comfort, improve energy efficiency, and enable greater load flexibility to the electric grid. This HVAC technology builds off an existing “Plug and Play,” home run duct system that was first developed using DOE Building America program funding and subsequently commercialized by IBACOS as the “Rheia” duct system with private investment. This new zoning technology will enhance Rheia’s capability to optimize room-level comfort through a combined hardware and software solution to control the airflow more efficiently to each individual room based on actual, real-time demand. Rheia already uses small diameter ducts that are easily installed within conditioned space, a measure that alone can decrease annual energy consumption and peak load by 10-30%. The proposed zoning system could save an additional 14-26% of annual energy, while doubling the peak electric load shedding capacity. When connected to a utility demand response program, the technology can allow unused rooms to “drift”, thereby reducing the overall building load while maintaining active comfort in the occupied rooms. All duct runs use the same 3-in diameter snap together and airtight fittings, reducing the product cost and installation time over conventional zoning hardware. Project funds will be used to develop a prototype of the modulating airflow manifold system, test and quantify its performance with different types of air handling equipment, run simulations to predict the daily load shift capacity and annual energy performance as well as comfort benefit, engage with codes and standards bodies, and begin quantifying product cost and installation time. The resultant commercial product will be offered for sale to homebuilders and contractors in conjunction with the existing Rheia system. Zoning in new homes is expected to grow rapidly over the next few years and this technology offering will align well with the timing of this trend. This will provide an additional value stream for contractors, and new value propositions for homeowners and utilities.

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells are one of the most promising energy conversion technologies for renewable, zero carbon, clean energy applications. However, the current leading commercial perfluorosulfonic acid-based materials are relatively expensive and have physical and chemical properties which limit fuel cell performance and durability, particularly under desirable high temperature operating conditions. This work is focused on the development and production of improved, lower cost, non-perfluorosulfonic acid conductive polymers and composite membranes that have the potential of operating at a higher temperature than the current perfluorosulfonic acid ionomers. Importantly, the structure of these materials allows for custom tailoring of physical and chemical properties key to effective performance under the harsher operating conditions required for next generation fuel cell applications. During Phase II we further developed a series of novel, non-perfluorosulfonic acid based ionomers and fabricated custom designed proton exchange membranes exhibiting both higher conductivity and lower hydrogen crossover than the commercial perfluorosulfonic acid baseline. Two leading ionomer structures have been down-selected. Membranes based on these ionomers simultaneously exhibit improved fuel cell performance and reduced hydrogen crossover compared with a leading commercial baseline. Ionomer synthesis, membrane fabrication and processing techniques have been further developed in order to improve reproducibility and reduce costs. During Phase IIA we plan to study and enhance the durability of our leading Phase II down-selected materials. Membranes will be assessed in a variety of ex situ and in situ fuel cell tests in order to assess long term durability and understand potential failure mechanisms. Durability enhancing techniques developed during Phase II will be applied in order to enhance mechanical and chemical stability and address the specific demands of high temperature and low humidity operation, while maintaining the excellent performance characteristics already demonstrated. Our collaborators for specialty testing, including accelerated stress conditions and commercial units, include a National Laboratory and a leading fuel cell device manufacturer. Success of this work would be a significant step toward clean energy production in two of the largest energy markets, transportation and stationary power. The development of more efficient fuel cells would result in a reduced dependence on fossil fuels and the associated economic, political and environmental issues related to their extraction, refinement, supply and final use.